Online Reporter
LONDON. —Twenty five years ago, Andy Flower’s brave call almost rocked English cricket — now history beckons again.
They didn’t just fight back, they declared behind and nearly knocked England flat in their own backyard. Now, 25 years later, Zimbabwe are finally set to face England again in a Test match, and where better than Trent Bridge, the scene of one of the gutsiest, ballsiest moments in Zimbabwean cricket history.
It was 2000, and the wounds from a humiliating Lord’s defeat were still fresh. England had wiped the floor with Zimbabwe, skittling them for 83 and 123 to win by an innings and 209 runs.
Captain Andy Flower didn’t mince words. He called it “Zimbabwe’s worst showing since gaining Test status.” That stung.
Because Zimbabwe had held their own in 1996. Both Tests on home soil were drawn.
In Bulawayo, Nick Knight managed just two runs when England needed three off the last ball. coach David Lloyd famously claimed “we flippin’ murdered them,” but the scorebooks didn’t agree.
And in Harare, Zimbabwe had England 89-3 after leading on first innings, until the rain saved the tourists.
So when Zimbabwe returned to England in 2000 for their first full Test tour, they had reason to believe. A year earlier, they’d reached the Super Sixes at the World Cup. They were dominating county sides, crushing Kent by an innings, looking sharp against Hampshire and Essex.Then came the Lord’s “obloquy.” But even after a third-innings collapse for 68 against Yorkshire, they bounced back. At Trent Bridge, Flower won the toss and bowled first in damp, swinging conditions. The seamers, Heath Streak, Neil Johnson, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, and 18-year-old debutant Mluleki Nkala, struggled early.
England’s Michael Atherton and Mark Ramprakash added 121 for the first wicket. The hosts closed Day One on 203-3.
Rain wiped out Day Two.
On the third day, Zimbabwe turned up the heat. Young Nkala, still a college student, grabbed 3-82. Every bowler chipped in. Atherton ground out a marathon 136 in nearly eight hours. England posted 374, with Ramprakash and Chris Schofield also passing fifty.
Then came Murray Goodwin.
Goodwin smacked 20 fours in a sublime 250, one of the great overseas knocks in English conditions. He shared a 129-run stand with Johnson (51) and another 122 with Andy Flower (42). England’s attack, especially Andy Caddick, had no answers. Schofield, meanwhile, “bowled with near-complete disregard for the niceties of line and length.”
At stumps on Day Four, Zimbabwe were 285-4, still 89 behind. Flower even sent in night-watchman Brian Murphy, hinting at a long haul.
Then boom, Flower declared!
It shocked everyone. The conditions were right. Atherton, down with a gastric bug, couldn’t open. Knight went out with Ramprakash instead.
And Zimbabwe pounced.
England were 12-3 — just 97 ahead.
Alec Stewart nicked behind. Andrew Flintoff tried to counterattack with a six, but Streak responded with what Wisden called a “superb, remote-controlled over,” beating the bat four times before getting the edge.
When Atherton finally emerged, Johnson sent back Graeme Hick, who’d scratched out 30 in 170 minutes. Schofield followed. England were now 110-7.But time was slipping.
Atherton, ever gritty, top-scored with 34. Andy Caddick stonewalled for an hour, just long enough to save the match. England were all out for 147. Guy Whittall picked up 3-14.
But Zimbabwe were left with just five overs to chase 237. The win was gone. Still, the impact was seismic.
The Trent Bridge Test reignited Zimbabwe. They thrashed Gloucestershire by 524 runs, then stormed into the NatWest Series final, beating West Indies three times, and even defeating England on their way to topping the table.
The final eluded them, but the message was clear: Zimbabwe weren’t just there to survive. —wisden.com/Zimpapers Sports Hub
